Chariho renews SRO contract

WOOD RIVER JCT. -- The Chariho Regional School Committee voted unanimously at the April 26 meeting to approve an agreement to retain Richmond police officer Anthony Zoglio as the school resource officer.

The vote extends the contract between the district and town police department for the 2011-12 school year. And it came after a long discussion heralding Zoglio for his efforts since he came onboard as the school resource officer, or SRO, last fall.

School Committee member Deborah Carney, of Charlestown, said she worked with Zoglio on the district's new bullying policy. And she said she was impressed with his intelligence and work ethic. "I haven't heard anything bad and that's a good thing," she said with a laugh.

Her sentiments were echoed by fellow Charlestown school board representative Andrew McQuaide. He noted that the SRO program has moved from intervention to prevention, which he called a breath of fresh air.

McQuaide's only area of concern was in maintaining consistency in the program by having the same face there for several years. "I'm merely saying that I hope you stick around," he said to Zoglio, adding that it's useful to the program itself and it helps when students are familiar with a face.

Richmond Chief of Police Elwood Johnson agreed with McQuaide. "Having the right person in this position is everything," Johnson said.

He added that Zoglio been asked to chaperone dances and field trips, which have him going beyond the call of duty. "[He] wants to do it and that shows he's a committed individual," Johnson said.